Controlling device for printing press ductor rollers



Nov. 7, 1939. w. c. DENNIS ET AL CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR PRINTING PRESS DUCTOR ROLLERS Filed Feb. 19, 1938 I In .I

2 She'ets-Sheet l ATTORNEY NOV. 7, 1939. w, c p s ET AL 2,178.740

CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR PRINTING PRESS DUCTORROLLERS I Filed Feb. 19. 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 "55 l fglii, Zlf cmgmvmyrois BY 'l/ ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 7, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEi' CONTROLLING FOR PRINTING PRESS DUCTOR ROLLERS Application February 19, 1938, Serial No. 191,372

7 Claims.

ink roll. Consequently there is no control over that portion of the ductor roll which engages and picks up ink from the ink roll. Inasmuch as the engagement is unregulated and haphazard, it is a common occurrance for the same surface portion of the ductor roller to engage the inkroller successively or frequently with the result that said portion of the ductor roller will pick up too much ink whereby the work will be impaired by an uneven application of ink to the ink distributing plate.

With the above in mind it is, therefore, the primary object of the present invention to provide a controlling device for printing press ductor rollers whereby a ductor roller engages the ink .roll only over successively advanced surfaces, whereby an even application and distribution of ink is assured.

A further object of the invention is to provide a ductor roller controlling device which permits normal operation and functioning of the ductor roller.

A further object of the invention is to provide a ductor roller controlling device which assures successive spacedly advanced application of the ductor roller to the ink roll and which functions automatically,

A further object of the invention is to provide a printing press ductor roller controlling device which requires a minimum of modification to the press and ductor roller.

A further object of the invention is to provide a printing press ductor roller controlling device having positive means for automatically advancing the ductor roller relative to its with the ink roll and the press.

A further object of the invention a controlling device for ,a printing roller which is of very simple constr contact area is to provide press ductor uction, is inexpensive to manufacture and install, is strong and durable, and is well adapted for set forth.

the purposes ductor roller controlling device and its parts and combinations as set forth in the claims, and all equivalents thereof.

In the accompanying drawings i n which the same reference characters indicate the same parts in all of the views: v I

. Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side view of thatportion of a printing press with which theink roll and ductor roller are associated and showing the 5 improved controlling device in side elevation;

2 is a plan view of the showing in Fig.1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1; g r

Fig. 4 is an enlarged end view of they ductor l roller controlling device with part broken away and in section; I p

Fig. 5 is a sectional View F ee v. V

Fig. 6 isa side view of a bracket mounted on the printing press frame for engagement with the ductor roller controlling device in certain positions of the latter;

Fig. 7 is an edgeview of saidbracket;

taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig.1 only showing a slightly modified formof controlling device;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on line 9--9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is anenlarged end View of the modified form of controlling device with part broken away and in section; and I r Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken on line "-41 of Fig. 10. 7

Referring to the drawings and more particularly to the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 7 inclusive, it will appear that a horizontal frame member of a printing press of a well known type is indicated by the numeral 15, there being a similar frame member spacedly mounted on the other side of the machine. At the outer ends of the frame members there is a transverse ink pan or reservoir 16 in which an ink or fountain roll ll turns, said fountain roll being fast on a positively driven shaft 18, suitably journaled at its ends in bearing brackets 19 mounted on said 40 frame members 15, all as is common in the forms of printing presses under consideration. Adapted to reciprocate above the frame is a horizontal, longitudinally movable ink distributing plate or platen Zil. The frame I5 also has mounted thereon brackets 2! in which is journaled the usual transverse ductor roller operating shaft 22. By ordinary means (not shown); said shaft is oscillated while the printing press is operating and said shaft has fast thereon the inner end of a ductor roll arm 23 so that said arm will swing in an arc upwardly and downwardly relative to reciprocations of the platen 20. Said parts are duplicated on the other side of the machine and the arms 23 have bosses 24 at their outer ends which rotatably receive the opposite end portions of a ductor roller shaft 25, a ductor roller 25 being fast on an intermediate portion of said shaft.

The invention is concerned particularly with a controlling device for the ductor roller 26. Said controlling device is indicated generally by the numeral 2? and is shown most clearly in Figs. 4 and 5. By reference to the drawings it will be observed that said controlling device is mounted on an outer end portion of the ductor roller shaft 25, and includes an inner cylindrical member 28' removably secured on said shaft portion by screws 29. A wheel 35 surrounds a portion of the cylindrical member 28 and its engagement therewith is such that it is free running in one. direction but clutchingly engages the cylindrical member upon rotation in the other direction, so that under the latter condition the cylindrical member 28 and the wheel 36 will turn as a unit with the shaft 2-5. The position of the wheel 30 on the cylindrical member 28 is defined by an annular rib 31' on said latter member engaging a recess 32111 the wheel, and by a keeper plate 33 secured to and engaging the other face of the wheel;

Extending into the wheel 30 from a peripheral portion thereof is a bore 34 whose major portion is cylindrical to freely movably receive a ball- 35. The inner end portion of said bore, which communicates with a peripheral portion-of the cylindrical member 28, is curved and restricted, as at 36, so that if the ball 35-is urged toward said latter portion of the bore there will be a binding engagement. The outer end of said bore threadably receives-a plug 37 Whose inner face is engaged by a coiledspring 38. The other end portion of said spring yieldingly engages the ball 35.

A frame member l5 ofthe printing press is adapted to carry an upstanding bracket 39 shown in detail in Figs. 6 and '7. This bracket is removably clamped to said frame member between the bearing brackets 2| and the ink reservoir Iii by clamping bolts 46 which confine portions of the frame between said bolts and a stud H. The upper end of said bracket is provided with a curved, upwardlylopening slot 42 lying in the arcuate path of movement of the controlling device 27. The mouth of the slot is enlarged so that aroller 43 projecting from an outer face of the wheel 30 may be guided thereinto. An inner face portion of an arm of the bracket, at the enlarged opening to the slot carries a resilient pad or insert 44. The mounting of the roller 43 is shown clearly in Fig. 5 wherein it will appear that said-roller is rotatably mounted on the outer end portion of a shouldered stud l5 projecting laterally from the outermost face of the wheel 30.

When the printing press is in operation the ink roll I? is being revolved in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 1, within the ink reservoir. During certain periods, while the platen 20 is in a' retracted position, the shaft 22 will be oscillated i in a direction to swing the arm 23 in an are from the broken lineposition of Fig. 1 to the full line position. In the latter position the ductor roller 26 will have surface contact with the ink r011. During this engagement, the ink roll turns through a small portion of a revolu tion, and thereby turns the ductor roller a predetermined distance. That portion of the ductor roller which contacts the ink roll during this period picks up ink therefrom. As the ductor roller is fast on its shaft 25 said shaft turns, as does the cylindrical member 28 of the controlling device 2l. It will be noted that during this period the roller 43 of the controlling device is engaged within the slot 42 of the bracket 39. Hence, the wheel 30 of the controlling device is held against rotation, but the direction of rotation of the inner cylindrical member 28 is such that the clutch arrangement (the ball 35 and opening 35) permits free rotation of said inner member in the proper direction.

A small surface on the ductor roller has ink applied thereto in the manner just described. Next, the arm 23 swings the ductor roller upwardly and when the upper position is reached the platen 20 is reciproc'a't'ed to the right to its broken line position in Fig. 1. The ductor roller is in engagement with the top surface of the platen and the outward movement of the platen rotates the ductor roller in a counterclock-wise direction relative to Fig. l. The shaft 25 and the elements of the controlling device turn similarly due to the factthat no restraint is placed on the outer member of the controlling device, which, through the spring 38 and ball 55 is frictionally engaged with the inner member 23. Therefore, during the outward movement of the platen the ductor roller Willturn a certain distance to apply its ink to the platen. When the platen is next reciprocated in the reverse or inward direction the ductor roller and entire controlling device turn in a clock-Wise direction (relative to Fig. 1) an amount equal to the movement in the counterclock-wise direction.

Immediately after the platen is retracted beyond the ductor roller the arm 23 is swung downwardly to-the position first describedto engagethe ductor roller with the ink roll and the sequence of operations is repeated as long as the machine isin operation. If, during the downward swing of the arm 23, which is very rapid, thereis any tendency of the roller and shaft 25 to coast, the wide entrance to the slot 42 of the bracket 39 will insure a catching and engagement of the small controller roller 43. Hence the position of the ductor roller relative to the ink roller is maintained, as its line of new engagement with the ink roller is coextensive with where it left said ink roll previously. For instance, and with reference to Fig. 1, if initially the ductor roller engaged the ing roll-at A and was turned from A to B with the application of ink to said surface, upon the next engagement of the ductor and ink rollers, the engagement would commence at B and extend to C, and so on, insuring a pro gressive, stepped application of ink to the ductor roller.

A slightly modified form of ductor roller controlling device is illustrated in Figs. 8, 9, and 11 of the drawings. It will not be necessary to repeat a description of that portion of the printing press with which the improved mechanism is associated. The only change over the principal form lies in the specific arrangement of the bracket 39 and in interior clutch mechanism in the controlling device 21.

With reference to the bracket 39' of the modification it is to be noted that in lieu of a rigid arm defining one side of the slot 42' there is a resilient or spring steel finger 50 which is outwardly flared at its free end portion. Said finger 50 is adapted to yieldingly engage the roller 43 on the controlling device and to guide it toward the bracket slot 42.

The controlling device 21' of the modification is, of course, mounted on the outer end portion of the ductor roller shaft 25. It includes an inner cylindrical member 28 removably secured to said shaft and having an enlarged inner drum portion 28" provided on its periphery with ratchet teeth Loosely mounted on an intermediate portion of the cylindrical member is a disc 52.

whose outer face has projecting therefrom a stem or stud 45 which revolubly carries a locking roller 43. A dished cover plate 53 has its flanged periphery adjacent the inner face of the disc 52 and said cover plate encloses the toothed portion 28 of the cylindrical member as well as a pivotal dog 54. Said pivotal dog is pivotally mounted on a stud shaft 55 projecting axially inwardly from the disc 52. The dog is adapted to engage teeth on the member 28" and is yieldingly held in tooth engaging position by a band spring 56. The cover plate 53 is held fast to the member 28" by screws 51 and the disc 52 is held in position on the member 28 by a collar 58 which is pinned to the member 28'.

From the foregoing description of the modified form of controlling device it will be apparent that the elements 28', 58 and 53 are secured to and turn with the shaft 25, while under certain conditions the disc 52 turns freely in one direction on the member 28'. In this event the dog 54 slips over the teeth 5|, but if rotation relative to the disc 52 is in the other direction, then the dog 54 will engage the shoulder of a tooth 5| and the disc will become locked with the other elements fast on the shaft 25.

The operation and functioning of the device of the modification is precisely the same as in the principal form of the invention. During engagement of the ductor roll 26 with the ink roll ll the disc 52 of the controlling device will be held against rotation by virtue of the lodgement of the roller 43 within the slotted bracket 39'. The ductor roller as well as the other elements of the controlling device, are turned by the ink roll a predetermined distance. When the ductor roller leaves the ink roll and is engaged by the platen, it as well as the entire controlling device is rotated in one direction and then in the other, but upon reengagement of the controlling device with the bracket, the ductor roller will present an advanced surface to the inkroll for ink application.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the improved controlling device is readily applicable to standard forms of printing presses and does not interfere with the operation thereof, but enhances and increases the efficiency of the ink applying steps. The controlling device is operated automatically by the normal movements of the press elements and functions to insure progressive stepped application of ink to the surface of the ductor roller. The device is of simple and novel construction, and is well adapted for the purposes set forth.

What is claimed as the invention is:

1. In combination with a printing press having a driven ink roll and a reciprocatory ink distributing plate, a revoluble ductor roller oscillated from a position of engagement with the ink roll to a position of engagement with said plate and visa versa, the ductor roller being turned when contacting either the ink roll or the plate, and ratchet means associated with the ductor roller and cooperating with fixed means on the press frame for positively causing a different surface portion of the ductor roller to contact the ink roll than was in contact therewith during the previous engagement of said members.

2. In combination with a printing press having a driven ink roll and a reciprocatory ink distributing plate, a revoluble ductor roller oscillated withsaid ink roll and visa versa, the ductor roller being turned by contactwith the moving ink roll or with the moving plate, and cooperating clutch and yoke means associated respectively with the ductor roller and with the press frame, automatically operative only upon each oscillation of the ductor roller toward the ink roll, for regulating the area of contact of the ductor roller with the ink roll by preventing movement of said ductor roller except in one direction and only when it contacts the ink roll.

3. In combination with a printing press having a driven ink roll and a reciprocatory ink distributing plate, a revoluble shaft having a ductor roller fast thereon, an oscillatory arm carrying said shaft and swingable between reciprocations of the plate from a position wherein the ductor roller engages the plate to a position wherein the ductor roller engages the ink roll, and cooperating meanson the shaft and press frame, including a ratchet device on the shaft and a yoke on the frame, for permitting free rotation of the shaft when the ductor roller is engaged by the plate and for limiting the direction of rotation of the ductor roller when it is moved free of the plate whereby an advanced surface portion of the ductor roller will be presented to the ink roll.

4. In combination with a printing press having a driven ink roll and a reciprocatory ink distributing plate, a revoluble shaft having a ductor roller fast thereon, an oscillatory arm carrying said shaft and swingable between reciprocations of the plate from a position wherein the ductor roller engages the plate to a position wherein the ductor roller engages the ink roll, a shaft rotation restraining device mounted on said shaft, and stationary means on the press frame positioned within the path of movement of said oscillatory arm for automatically operating said device only upon movement of said arm toward the ink roll and to restrain rotation of said shaft in only one direction.

5. In combination with a printing press having a driven ink roll and a reciprocatory ink distributing plate, a revoluble shaft having a ductor roller fast thereon, an oscillatory arm carrying said shaft and swingable between reciprocations of the plate from a position wherein the ductor roller engages the plate to a position wherein the ductor roller engages the ink roll, and a shaft rotation controlling device automatically operable only when the ductor roller is moved free of the plate, said device comprising clutch mechanism removably mounted on said shaft for positively preventing rotation of the shaft in one direction, and means for automatically setting and releasing said clutch mechanism at desired periods.

6. In combination with a printing press having a driven ink roll and a reciprocatory ink distributing plate, a revoluble shaft having a ductor roller fast thereon, an oscillatory arm carrying said shaft and swingable between reciprocations of the plate from a position wherein the ductor roller engages the plate to a position wherein the ductor roller engages the ink roll, and a shaft rotation controlling device automatically operable only when the ductor roller is moved free of the plate, said device comprising clutch mechanism on said shaft for preventing undesired rotation of the shaft in one direction, and means for automatically setting said clutch mechanism operative upon a movement of the ductor roller free of the plate and toward the ink roll.

7; In combination with a printing press having a driven ink roll and a reciprocatory ink distributing plate, a revolubIe shaft having a ductor roller-fast thereon, an oscillatory arm carrying said shaft and swingable between reciprocations of the plate from a position wherein the ductor roller engages the plate to a position wherein the ductor roller engages the ink roll, and cooperat- 

